Method and system for improving coupling and cohesion of at least one educational program

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems to improve coupling and cohesion of at least one educational program are provided. In some examples, the methods and systems include at least one educational program, where the at least one educational program comprises a first application programming interface (API) that is configured to be coupled to a second API of an internet enabled electronic device in a restricted state and partially decoupled in an unrestricted state.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/930,670 filed on Sep. 8, 2022, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEMFOR IMPROVING COUPLING AND COHESION OF AT LEAST ONE EDUCATIONALPROGRAM”, and also claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.18/176,239 filed on Feb. 28, 2023, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FORIMPROVING COUPLING AND COHESION OF AT LEAST ONE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM” thecontents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD

The field of the present disclosure relates to a method and system toimprove coupling and cohesion of at least one educational program.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of United States Patent Application Publication No.2018/0315332 is incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Educational programs can be used to limit the amount of time that a userof an internet enabled electronic device (such as, but not limited to asmartphone) can spend on non-educational tasks.

However, educational programs may interact with an applicationprogramming interface (API) of the internet enabled electronic device.An issue that arises with such a configuration is that the educationalprogram must run in the background even when the device is not in arestricted state. This can cause issues with the operation of the device(e.g., sluggishness or crashing).

Accordingly, improvements in the API configurations of educationalprograms running on internet enabled electronic devices are needed.

SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a method and system ofimproving coupling and cohesion of at least one educational program. Anexemplary method may include obtaining a system including a remotesource, a first internet enabled electronic device, where the firstinternet enabled device may be in an unrestricted state, and a secondinternet enabled electronic device.

Embodiments may also include downloading, to the first internet enabledelectronic device, from the remote source, at least one educationalprogram, where the at least one educational program may include a firstapplication programming interface (API), where the first API may beassociated with the at least one educational program. In someembodiments, the unrestricted state may include the first API of theeducational program partially decoupled from a second API.

In some embodiments, while partially decoupled, the second API runsfreely from the first API except for at least one coupled component. Insome embodiments, the second API may be associated with an operatingsystem of the first internet enabled electronic device. In someembodiments, the first API may be partially decoupled from the secondAPI upon the first API sending at least one unlock instruction from thefirst API to the second API.

In some embodiments, the unlock instruction commands the second API toallow a first user of the first internet enabled electronic device toaccess restricted content for a predetermined amount of time. In certainexamples, the restricted content may be content that may be ordinarilyaccessible by the first user of the first internet enabled electronicdevice.

Embodiments may also include manually preselecting a list of restrictedcontent, where the manually preselecting may be performed remotely, viathe first API, by a second user of the second internet enabledelectronic device. Embodiments may also include remotely transforming,via the first API, the first internet enabled electronic device into arestricted state, such that the first user may be prevented fromaccessing the restricted content.

In some embodiments, the restricted state may include the first API ofthe educational program coupled to the second API. In some embodiments,while coupled, the second API runs cohesively with the first API. Insome embodiments, the first API may be coupled to the second API uponthe first API sending at least one lock instruction to the second API.

In some embodiments, the at least one lock instruction commands thesecond API to prevent access to the restricted content. Embodiments mayalso include obtaining a set of rules associated with the first user,where the set of rules may include a preset educational quota and aneducational count for the first user, the educational count having nolimit.

Embodiments may also include generating, via the first API, the at leastone educational program that can be played by the first user to raisethe educational count. Embodiments may also include applying the set ofrules to determine whether the educational count may be lower than thepreset educational quota. Embodiments may also include raising theeducational count, upon completion of the at least one educationalprogram.

Embodiments may also include repeating the applying and raising untilthe educational count may be greater than or equal to the preseteducational quota. Embodiments may also include once the educationalcount may be greater than or equal to the preset educational quota,remotely reverting, via the at least one unlock instruction, the firstinternet enabled electronic device to the unrestricted state, such thatthe first user may be granted access to the restricted content, for thepredetermined amount of time.

Covered embodiments are defined by the claims, not this summary. Thissummary is a high-level overview of various aspects and introduces someof the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Descriptionsection below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essentialfeatures of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used inisolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. Thesubject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portionsof the entire specification, any or all drawings, and each claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a flowchart illustrating a method, according to someembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a flowchart extending from FIG. 1A and further illustratingthe method, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system according to someembodiments of the present disclosure.

Some embodiments of the disclosure are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specificreference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theembodiments shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the disclosure. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a method and system ofimproving coupling and cohesion of at least one educational program.

As used in the present disclosure, “coupling” and other like terms(e.g., “coupled) refer to the degree of interdependence betweenoperating system components (such as, but not limited to applicationprogramming interfaces (APIs)). An operating system component is“coupled” to another component when both components must work togetherto perform at least one specific task. An operating system component is“decoupled” to another component when components do not work together toperform at least one specific task.

An operating system component is “partially decoupled” when all but asubset of subcomponents to work together to perform a specific task.Unexpectedly, when operating systems according to some embodiments ofthe present disclosure are partially decoupled while in the unrestrictedstate, such that a subset of components of the first API are permittedto run in the background, the at least one educational program may runmore smoothly and be less likely to crash. This may be because thememory load is more distributed over time. In some examples, there maybe advantages to selecting a timer as the coupled component, as this mayhave the additional benefit of measuring the educational time, asdiscussed further below.

“Cohesion” or other like terms (e.g., “cohesive,” “cohesively”) refer tothe degree to which components of an operating system (such as, but notlimited to APIs) operate as a single unit. Operating system componentsoperate “cohesively” when both components operate as a single componentwhile performing the specific task.

An “educational program” is any program that restricts the usage of aninternet enabled electronic device unless the user of the device hasperformed a predetermined set of educational tasks. In some examples,the program is a software program, a mobile application, a program on acomputer readable medium, a cloud-based program, or any combinationthereof. In some embodiments, the educational tasks may compriseeducational videos, educational graphics, educational texts such asbooks or journal articles, test-prep tools, study tools, math problems,games, puzzle games, quiz games, reading games, reading prompts, anyother educational component, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the educational tasks include otherself-improvement related tasks, such as running, walking, biking,swimming, jumping rope, hiking, dancing, taking a Pilates class,strength training, weight training, yoga, meditation, self-care,memory-improving activities, tracking caloric intake, following a mealplan, tracking exercise, bible study, cooking, meal preparation,listening to music, watching a motivational video, listening to apodcast, engaging with the community, writing, journaling, drawing,learning an instrument, photography, sewing, painting, organizing,cleaning, taking steps to address addiction, managing finances,traveling, teaching others, volunteering, and engaging with a pet orother animal.

In these embodiments, various ways of measuring the educational countcan be employed. For tasks that involve exercise, things such asdistance, time, daily frequency, weekly frequency, monthly frequency, oruser-set frequency could be tracked to raise the user's educationalcount. Additionally, hitting certain preset milestones can also be usedto raise the user's educational count. For all of the tasks listedabove, time and frequency can be tracked and assigned a certain value toraise the user's educational count by. This tracking can be donenatively within the system and method in accordance with the presentdisclosure, or can be tracked by a third-party software applicationwhich is coupled to the system and method in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

An exemplary method may include obtaining a system. In some examples thesystem may include a remote source, a first internet enabled electronicdevice, and a second internet enabled electronic device. The firstinternet enabled electronic device, the second internet enabledelectronic device, or any combination thereof may comprise a computer, asmartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop, any other internet-enableddevice, or any combination thereof.

In certain examples the first internet enabled electronic device mayinitially be in an unrestricted state. As used herein, an “unrestrictedstate” is a state where a first API is partially decoupled from a secondAPI. In some examples, the first API is associated with at least oneeducational program. In some embodiments, the second API may beassociated with the operating system of the first internet enabledelectronic device. In some examples, the second API is an Android™ API,an Apple™ Screentime API, or any combination thereof. In some examples,while partially decoupled, the second API runs freely from the first APIexcept for at least one coupled component. In some embodiments, in theunrestricted state, the at least one coupled component of the second APIcomprises a timer, where the timer may be configured to measure thepredetermined amount of time where the first user may be granted accessto certain restricted content. In some embodiments, the first API may bepartially decoupled from the second API upon the first API sending atleast one unlock instruction from the first API to the second API. Insome embodiments, the unlock instruction commands the second API toallow a first user of the first internet enabled electronic device toaccess restricted content for a predetermined amount of time.

As used herein, “restricted content” may be content that may beordinarily accessible by the first user of the first internet enabledelectronic device. Restricted content may include, but is not limitedto, unauthorized applications, restricted videos, restricted images,restricted audio, restricted websites, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the timer may be further configured to notify thefirst API when the predetermined amount of time (during which the firstuser has access to the restricted content) has elapsed. In someembodiments, upon notifying the first API that the predetermined amountof time has elapsed, the first API may be configured to initiate theremotely transforming step described in the present disclosure below. Insome embodiments the timer is a part of the Android™ API, an Apple™Screentime API, or any combination thereof.

Embodiments may also include downloading, to the first internet enabledelectronic device, from the remote source, the at least one educationalprogram, which comprises the first API.

Embodiments may also include manually preselecting a list of therestricted content, where the manually preselecting may be performedremotely, via the first API, by a second user of the second internetenabled electronic device. In some embodiments, the first user may be aminor and the second user may be a parent or guardian.

Embodiments may also include remotely transforming, via the first API,the first internet enabled electronic device into a restricted state. Asused herein, a “restricted state” is a state where the first API of theeducational program coupled to the second API, in such a way thatprevents the first user from accessing the restricted content.

In some embodiments, while coupled, the second API runs cohesively withthe first API. In certain examples, the cohesion results in an alternateeducational operating system where non-educational components of theoperating system are inaccessible.

In some embodiments, the first API may be coupled to the second API uponthe first API sending at least one lock instruction to the second API.In some embodiments, the at least one lock instruction commands thesecond API to prevent access to the restricted content.

In some examples where the second API is a customized Android API Insome such examples, the second API may comprise a custom service, wherethe custom service may be configured to lock all content other than atleast one decoupled component. In some embodiments, the at least onedecoupled component of the customized Android API in the restrictedstate. The at least one decoupled component, may, in some examples,comprise at least one educational program, a keypad of the firstinternet enabled electronic device, or any combination thereof. In someexamples, the at least one decoupled component of the customized AndroidAPI in the restricted state comprises at least one preauthorized mobileapplication, at least one browser displaying preauthorized content, orany combination thereof

Embodiments may also include obtaining a set of rules associated withthe first user, where the set of rules may include a preset educationalquota and an educational count for the first user, the educational counthaving no limit.

Embodiments may also include generating, via the first API, the at leastone educational program that can be played by the first user to raisethe educational count. Embodiments may also include applying the set ofrules to determine whether the educational count may be lower than thepreset educational quota. Embodiments may also include raising theeducational count, upon completion of the at least one educationalprogram.

Embodiments may also include repeating the applying and raising untilthe educational count may be greater than or equal to the preseteducational quota.

In some embodiments, once the educational count may be greater than orequal to the preset educational quota, remotely reverting, via the atleast one unlock instruction, the first internet enabled electronicdevice to the unrestricted state, such that the first user may begranted access to the restricted content, for the predetermined amountof time.

In some embodiments, the method may include displaying a custom graphicwhen the user attempts to access restricted content when the educationalcount may be not greater than or equal to the preset educational quota.In some embodiments, the custom graphic indicates that the restrictedcontent may be locked.

FIGS. 1A to 1B are flowcharts that describe a method, according to someembodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, at 102, themethod may include obtaining a system described by the presentdisclosure.

In some embodiments, at 104, the method may include downloading, to thefirst internet enabled electronic device, from the remote source, atleast one educational program, where the at least one educationalprogram comprises a first application programming interface (API), wherethe first API may be associated with the at least one educationalprogram. In some embodiments, at 106, the method may include manuallypreselecting a list of restricted content, where the manuallypreselecting may be performed remotely, via the first API, by a seconduser of the second internet enabled electronic device. At 108, themethod may include remotely transforming, via the first API, the firstinternet enabled electronic device into a restricted state, such thatthe first user may be prevented from accessing the restricted content.

In some embodiments, at 110, the method may include obtaining a set ofrules associated with the first user, where the set of rules comprises apreset educational quota and an educational count for the first user,the educational count having no limit. At 112, the method may includegenerating, via the first API, the at least one educational program thatcan be played by the first user to raise the educational count. At 114,the method may include applying the set of rules to determine whetherthe educational count may be lower than the preset educational quota.

In some embodiments, at 116, the method may include raising theeducational count, upon completion of the at least one educationalprogram. At 118, the method may include repeating the applying andraising until the educational count may be greater than or equal to thepreset educational quota. At 120, the method may include, once theeducational count may be greater than or equal to the preset educationalquota, remotely reverting, via the at least one unlock instruction, thefirst internet enabled electronic device to the unrestricted state, suchthat the first user may be granted access to the restricted content, forthe predetermined amount of time.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that describes a system 200, according to someembodiments of the present disclosure. The system 200 may include afirst internet enabled electronic device 220, where the first internetenabled device 220 may be in an unrestricted state. The system 200 mayalso include a first application programming interface 230 (API), wherethe first API may be associated with the at least one educationalprogram. In some embodiments, the system 200 may include a remote source210, a second internet enabled electronic device 240, and a second API250.

Various additional embodiments are contemplated by the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, the educational program is provided bya remote source such as a third party or an advertising partner. In someembodiments, users can participate in additional educational programsbeyond what is required to bring the first internet enabled electronicdevice into an unrestricted state. In these embodiments, a user isprovided with a register containing a list of tangible, physical items,each item having a respective item value, which can be earned and thensubsequently shipped to the user upon redemption. In these embodiments,one or more rules are set to create a ratio of the item value to anamount of educational programs needed to be completed in order to haveearned certain items. A user interface will be presented to allow theusers to redeem these tangible, physical items.

The description and drawings described herein represent exampleconfigurations and do not represent all the implementations within thescope of the claims. For example, the operations and steps may berearranged, combined or otherwise modified. Also, structures and devicesmay be represented in the form of block diagrams to represent therelationship between components and avoid obscuring the describedconcepts. Similar components or features may have the same name but mayhave different reference numbers corresponding to different figures.

Some modifications to the disclosure may be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied toother variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designsdescribed herein, but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistentwith the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Among thosebenefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects andadvantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Detailedembodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, itis to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merelyillustrative of the disclosure that may be embodied in various forms. Inaddition, each of the examples given regarding the various embodimentsof the disclosure which are intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive.

In this disclosure and the following claims, the word “or” indicates aninclusive list such that, for example, the list of X, Y, or Z means X orY or Z or XY or XZ or YZ or XYZ. Also the phrase “based on” is not usedto represent a closed set of conditions. For example, a step that isdescribed as “based on condition A” may be based on both condition A andcondition B. In other words, the phrase “based on” shall be construed tomean “based at least in part on.” Also, the words “a” or “an” indicate“at least one.”

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take themeanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,”and “in some embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to thesame embodiment(s), though it may. Furthermore, the phrases “in anotherembodiment” and “in some other embodiments” as used herein do notnecessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Allembodiments of the disclosure are intended to be combinable withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

As used herein, the term “based on” is not exclusive and allows forbeing based on additional factors not described, unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification,the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. Themeaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

All prior patents, publications, and test methods referenced herein areincorporated by reference in their entireties.

Variations, modifications and alterations to embodiments of the presentdisclosure described above will make themselves apparent to thoseskilled in the art. All such variations, modifications, alterations andthe like are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure, limited solely by the appended claims.

Any feature or element that is positively identified in this descriptionmay also be specifically excluded as a feature or element of anembodiment of the present as defined in the claims.

As used herein, the term “consisting essentially of” limits the scope ofa specific claim to the specified materials or steps and those that donot materially affect the basic and novel characteristic orcharacteristics of the specific claim.

The disclosure described herein may be practiced in the absence of anyelement or elements, limitation or limitations, which is notspecifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instanceherein, any of the terms “comprising,” “consisting essentially of and“consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms. Theterms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of thedisclosure.

1. A method comprising: obtaining a system comprising: a remote source;a first internet enabled electronic device, where the first internetenabled device is in an unrestricted state; and a second internetenabled electronic device; downloading, to the first internet enabledelectronic device, from the remote source, at least one educationalprogram, where the at least one educational program comprises a firstapplication programming interface (API), where the first API isassociated with the at least one educational program; where theunrestricted state comprises the first API of the educational programpartially decoupled from a second API, where, while partially decoupled,the second API runs freely from the first API except for at least onecoupled component; where the second API is associated with an operatingsystem of the first internet enabled electronic device, where the firstAPI is partially decoupled from the second API upon the first APIsending at least one unlock instruction from the first API to the secondAPI, where the unlock instruction commands the second API to allow auser of the first internet enabled electronic device to accessrestricted content for a predetermined amount of time, where therestricted content is content that is ordinarily accessible by the userof the first internet enabled electronic device; manually preselecting alist of restricted content, where the manually preselecting is performedremotely, via the first API, by a user of the second internet enabledelectronic device; remotely transforming, via the first API, the firstinternet enabled electronic device into a restricted state, such thatthe user is prevented from accessing the restricted content; where therestricted state comprises the first API of the educational programcoupled to the second API; where, while coupled, the second API runscohesively with the first API; where the first API is coupled to thesecond API upon the first API sending at least one lock instruction tothe second API, where the at least one lock instruction commands thesecond API to prevent access to the restricted content; obtaining a setof rules associated with the user, where the set of rules comprises apreset educational quota and an educational count for the user, theeducational count having no limit; generating, via the first API, the atleast one educational program that can be played by the user to raisethe educational count; applying the set of rules to determine whetherthe educational count is lower than the preset educational quota;raising the educational count, upon completion of the at least oneeducational program; repeating the applying and raising until theeducational count is greater than or equal to the preset educationalquota; and once the educational count is greater than or equal to thepreset educational quota, remotely reverting, via the at least oneunlock instruction, the first internet enabled electronic device to theunrestricted state, such that the user is granted access to therestricted content, for the predetermined amount of time.
 2. The methodof claim 1, where the at least one coupled component of the second APIin the unrestricted state comprises a timer, where the timer isconfigured to measure the predetermined amount of time where the user isgranted access to the restricted content.
 3. The method of claim 2,where the timer is further configured to notify the first API when thepredetermined amount of time has elapsed.
 4. The method of claim 3,where upon notifying the first API that the predetermined amount of timehas elapsed, the first API is configured to initiate the remotelytransforming step.
 5. The method of claim 1, where the remote sourcecomprises at least one server computer, where the first internet enabledelectronic device and the second internet enabled electronic device areclient devices of the at least one server computer.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, where the first internet enabled electronic device, the secondinternet enabled electronic device, or any combination thereof comprisesa smartphone, a tablet, a gaming device, a desktop computer, a laptopcomputer, or any combination thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of: providing a register of a plurality of physicalitems, each physical item having a respective item value; and defining aratio of educational count to the item value for each of the pluralityof physical items.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising thesteps of: reducing the educational count by an amount equal to the itemvalue of one or more of the plurality of physical items based on theratio; and providing to the user, the one or more plurality of physicalitems.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein each physical item is providedexclusively by one or more third parties.
 10. A system comprising: aremote source; a first internet enabled electronic device, where thefirst internet enabled device is in an unrestricted state; a register ofa plurality of physical items, each physical item having a respectiveitem value; and a second internet enabled electronic device; where thefirst internet enabled electronic device is configured to download, fromthe remote source, at least one educational program, where the at leastone educational program comprises a first application programminginterface (API), where the first API is associated with the at least oneeducational program; where the unrestricted state comprises the firstAPI of the educational program partially decoupled from a second API,where, while partially decoupled, the second API runs freely from thefirst API except for at least one coupled component; where the secondAPI is associated with an operating system of the first internet enabledelectronic device, where the first API is partially decoupled from thesecond API upon the first API sending at least one unlock instructionfrom the first API to the second API, where the at least one unlockinstruction commands the second API to allow a user of the firstinternet enabled electronic device to access restricted content for apredetermined amount of time, where the restricted content is contentthat is ordinarily accessible by the user of the first internet enabledelectronic device; where the second internet enabled electronic deviceis configured to allow the user to manually preselect a list ofrestricted content remotely, via the first API; where the secondinternet enabled electronic device is further configured to allow theuser to, via the first API, the first internet enabled electronic deviceinto a restricted state, such that the user is prevented from accessingthe restricted content; where the restricted state comprises the firstAPI of the educational program coupled to the second API; where, whilecoupled, the second API runs cohesively with the first API; where thefirst API is coupled to the second API upon the first API sending atleast one lock instruction to the second API, where the at least onelock instruction commands the second API to prevent access to therestricted content; where the first internet enabled electronic deviceis further configured to obtain a set of rules associated with the user,where the set of rules comprises a preset educational quota and aneducational count for the user, the educational count having no limit;where the first internet enabled electronic device is further configuredto generate, via the first API, the at least one educational programthat can be played by the user to raise the educational count; where thefirst internet enabled electronic device is further configured to applythe set of rules to determine whether the educational count is lowerthan the preset educational quota; where the first internet enabledelectronic device is further configured to raise the educational count,upon completion of the at least one educational program; where the firstinternet enabled electronic device is further configured to apply theset of rules and raise the educational count until the educational countis greater than or equal to the preset educational quota; and where,once the educational count is greater than or equal to the preseteducational quota, the second internet enabled electronic device isconfigured to remotely revert, via the at least one unlock instruction,the first internet enabled electronic device to the unrestricted state,such that the user is granted access to the restricted content, for thepredetermined amount of time.
 17. The system of claim 10, furthercomprising a register of where the at least one coupled component of thesecond API in the unrestricted state comprises a timer, where the timeris configured to measure the predetermined amount of time where thefirst user is granted access to the restricted content.